2026 Professional baseball Draft Conference supported by Lipovitan D (22nd)

Yamaha's left-handed pitcher Yusuke Sawayama (23) was selected in the third round by the Seibu Lions.

His weapons are a fastball reaching a maximum speed of 152 km/h and a change-up, both thrown from his 187 cm tall frame. While at Yamaha, he participated in the Intercity Baseball Tournament for three consecutive years, serving as a reinforcement player for Toyota Motor in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

In March of this year, he participated in the WBC (World Baseball Classic) as a representative of Brazil. Although the team finished at the bottom of Pool B with four consecutive losses, he started two games, including the one against Italy who reached the final four, and appealed to the world by pitching 8 innings with zero runs. His specialty change-up was effective even against the world's toughest opponents, and he gained confidence, saying, 'I had confidence in my pitches, but now it has turned into a certainty.' He will apply this valuable experience in the professional world.

Yusuke Sawayama. Born October 15, 2003, in Hamamatsu City. 23 years old. Started baseball in his second year of elementary school with the Hamamatsu Brats Youth Baseball Club, and went from Hamamatsu Hokubu Junior High School to Kakegawa Nishi High School. Joined Yamaha in 2022 after graduation. 187 cm, 90 kg. Left-handed pitcher and left-handed batter.